On a chilly Christmas Eve, Holly the shy robin was bursting with excitement. She would be hosting a grand Christmas party for all her woodland friends the very next day! She had everything planned, from fun activities to delicious food like her special Christmas cake filled with nuts and raisins. But there was one thing left to make the party complete - Bramble’s reusable crackers.

With a brave chirp, Holly went to Bramble, the cheerful rabbit, who was gathering twigs for his fire. “Bramble,” She said, her feathers fluttering nervously, “could you help me with something?” 

Bramble paused, his kind eyes twinkling with curiosity. “Of course, Holly. What do you need?”

Blushing an even deeper shade of red, Holly explained she wanted to make her own reusable crackers for the party. “I’ve been looking at the red checked shirt that the scarecrow wears,” she admitted sheepishly. “I think it would make the perfect cracker material.”  

Bramble’s whiskers twitched with amusement. “That’s an excellent idea Holly! I’d be honoured to help you.” 

Excited about their plan, Holly and Bramble went to the field where the scarecrow stood guard. Bramble noticed the scarecrow’s shirt and thought it was perfect - it’s thick material would make great crackers, and its red colour would add a festive touch. Their friends would love these! Before taking the shirt, they made sure to leave a warm blanket for the scarecrow, so he wouldn’t feel cold without it.

Returning to Bramble's burrow, the two of them got busy cutting the material into neat little rectangles. Bramble then pulled up an extra chair at his sewing machine. Patiently, he showed Holly how to thread it, guiding the cotton carefully. With a press of his foot on a pedal, Holly watched in amazement as the crackers began to take shape. 

A few hours later, Holly held in her wings a full set of beautiful crackers, just as she had imagined. “Thank you so much, Bramble!” she chirped happily with a big smile.

Bramble always brought his own crackers to the forest parties and filled them himself, which showed how kind he was. But Holly wanted everyone, including Bramble, to be surprised by the gifts inside. So, she flew from dens to nests, reminding all her friends about her party and asking them to secretly give gifts for the crackers. Every woodland creature eagerly agreed to join in the fun.  

Rustle the hedgehog waddled up with a mischievous glint in his eye, holding a box of his favourite treats. “Curried worms,” he declared with a grin, “the finest delicacy in the forest!” 

Holly giggled at Rustle’s choice and thanked him warmly. “I’m sure whoever gets this will be thrilled, Rustle.” She carefully placed the assembled cracker in her other wing, thinking she would keep it away from Bramble the rabbit, who preferred his vegetables. She secretly hoped she would win it herself!  

That night, Holly drifted off to sleep with her nest full of crackers, and happy thoughts swirling in her head. When she woke up and peeked out of her tree, she saw that it had been snowing. Noticing little pawprints, she realised the field mice must have already been out for their traditional Christmas walk. With a lot to do, Holly felt grateful when Nutmeg climbed up to her nest, offering to lend a paw.

"Yes please!" replied Holly gratefully, as she juggled stirring the pots with
cutting colourful ribbons. Together, they worked side by side, creating a joyful atmosphere in Holly's cosy nest.

Holly shared her plans for the day, from decorating the nearby trees to singing Christmas carols, and Nutmeg listened eagerly, happy to help in any way she could. As they worked, the smell of cinnamon and other spices filled the air, making the nest feel even more festive. Holly knew that the party would be a great success with Nutmeg by her side.

As their friends started to arrive, Nutmeg and Holly welcomed them with cheerful smiles, offering them Christmas punch to enjoy. They wished everyone a “Merry Christmas” as they handed out the drinks. Bramble grinned when he saw the red checked crackers, feeling even more excited because he didn't know what treats were inside.

Holly had set up a craft table with colourful fruits and nuts and ribbons arranged in neat little piles. She quietly explained that they would make some special edible decorations for the forest.  

Rustle the hedgehog perked up from his cosy corner, intrigued. “Decorations that can be eaten, Holly?” he asked with a yawn, rubbing his eyes sleepily.

Holly explained further, “You see, in the winter, food can be harder for us birds to find. So, by decorating the trees with tasty treats, we can help others have a Christmas feast too!”

Bramble the rabbit’s ears twitched with interest. “What a splendid idea, Holly!” he exclaimed. “How do we start?” Holly showed her friends how to put the decorations together.

Nutmeg the squirrel scampered over, her cheeks bulging with excitement. “I can’t wait to start decorating!” she squeaked, grabbing a walnut. The woodland creatures began eagerly crafting their decorations for the birds to eat.

Once they got back from hanging the decorations, Holly quietly announced that it was time for a special Christmas dinner. She led her friends to a beautifully decorated table, with twinkling candles and pinecones that added a rustic charm.

At each spot at the table – just as the animals had hoped – there was a lovely cracker waiting to be opened. Bramble was quick to explain how hard Holly had worked to make them with him and how she had spotted the scarecrow’s shirt. Holly blushed, feeling grateful for Bramble’s kind words.

There were lots of loud snaps in the room as everyone grabbed their crackers. With each snap, colourful treats and surprises were revealed. Everyone looked around the room, curious to see who had received the present they had given. There were lots of guesses and giggles as they tried to figure out who had given each surprise. 

Bramble’s face lit up as he received a small hand painted feather, which made him very happy. He thought Holly put it in there because it looked like one of her feathers, and she blushed again when he said thank you.

In her cracker, Holly discovered a lovely wooden keyring to fidget with. She thought it was just right for her bag – a special something to keep her calm during all her wonderful adventures! Meanwhile, Nutmeg looked delighted with her curried worms.

Holly had added a tiny Christmas card to each cracker, with a picture of a snowman and a handwritten message wishing her guests a Happy Christmas. And of course, she included some paper crowns, just like Bramble always did.

Looking like royalty, everyone filled their plates with roasted vegetables, juicy fruits, and hearty nuts. In the middle of the table stood Holly’s magnificent Christmas cake, covered with lots of little snowflakes made from icing. It shimmered in the candlelight, making the whole room feel magical.  

Holly beamed at her friends, feeling joyful and confident. “Let’s raise a toast to friendship and the magic of Christmas!” she said boldly. As everyone lifted their glasses of Christmas punch, they all shouted together, “Cheers!”

After enjoying their Christmas feast together and sharing lots of laughs and stories, they sang some Christmas carols. Holly sang beautifully, and it made them feel warm and happy.

As the evening ended, everyone said warm goodbyes and went home, their hearts full of joy and their bellies full of delicious food. When Holly tidied up, she made sure to gather her special crackers for the next party, already looking forward to the fun times they would bring.